Education center at Glen Rock's Thielke Arboretum targeted for 2015

Town leaders, educators and others from Glen Rock and surrounding towns received a weekend update on the status of plans to construct an environmental education center at the Thielke Arboretum.

Tom Scerbo discusses a plan to build an education center at the Thielke Arboretum.

At last Saturday's gathering at the home of Tom Vielbig, president of the Friends of the Glen Rock Arboretum (FOGRA), some 55 invitees learned that the steering committee driving the effort is targeting late 2015 for completion of the project, with 60 percent of the roughly $500,000 needed to secure bank financing still outstanding.

Vielbig said strong support for the project was affirmed by Glen Rock and Ridgewood mayors John van Keuren and Paul Aronsohn, and that their enthusiasm was shared by local school administrators and teachers, Home and School Association leaders, library and church representatives and others across the community.

The initiative's goals and progress were spelled out by Vielbig, project steering committee co-chairs Carol Thielke and Tom Scerbo, and Glen Rock resident Rob Dill, an environmental science professor at Bergen Community College.

"Rob delivered the educator's perspective on what we want to accomplish," Vielbig said. "He's really passionate about this project and did a great job at getting people excited about it too.

Vielbig added, "This wasn't so much a fundraiser as an attempt to gather leaders in and around Glen Rock, and make sure that they have accurate information in order to spread the good word. It also provided a very good networking opportunity, as we get ready to step up fundraising to meet our deadline," referring to the conversations around the room that preceded and followed the speaker portion.

The original blueprint called for a 1,750-square-foot building on the Arboretum grounds, to provide office, conference, classroom and multi-purpose space, along with a restroom. Architectural renderings were initiated in 2012 and have since been fine-tuned. Local and environmental approvals are in hand.

Vielbig said the fundraising and project steering committee - separate from the FOGRA trustees - was recently appointed to explore and accelerate fundraising going forward. Co-chairs Thielke and Scerbo are joined by Bill Carbone, Bob Freudenrich, Bob Van Langen, Scott King and Vielbig - each with fundraising and/or project development experience.

"We know that to meet our timetable, there's a lot of lead time involved prior to actual construction. You start spending money months before construction begins, so you have to be prepared to start cutting checks early next year," Vielbig said.

Commenting on the multi-community participation, he said, "Our vision for the future of the Arboretum transcends simply a Glen Rock-only facility. The audience for this kind of resource is already larger and would broaden further with the addition of the education facility. Regular visitors already include many from Ridgewood, Wyckoff and Clifton," Vielbig noted.

He said that aspect would also play a role in efforts to secure funding grants from various county or state programs that support green space and environmental education projects in New Jersey communities. Noting Dill's Saturday prediction that the biggest problem would be scheduling use of the building, Vielbig said, "That's exactly the kind of headache we hope to have."

Despite its frequent use and status as a treasured resource to local and area residents, the Arboretum has remained without an indoor facility to support both its programming goals and administrative needs.

Discussion and preliminary planning for a building began in 2009, but the actual fundraising kickoff was the 2012 Labor Day weekend Arboretum Run. FOGRA then began distributing informational post cards detailing the project, illustrated by a rendering of the proposed building. A large sign containing those elements was also erected at the Arboretum, and the group continues to post information and receive contributions on its website.

At that time, Vielbig cited the enthusiastic response of community and school district representatives when informed of the plans.

"We presented this to the Federated Home and School Association, and their reaction was, 'This is so obvious, a no-brainer; what can we do to help?'" he said. "We also showed it to members of the high school science faculty, and they were very excited about the educational enhancements they could execute with an indoor facility."

One suggestion by educators was the establishment of the center as an "Onsite Science Lab for Environmental Studies," addressing such areas as wetlands studies, native vs. invasive plants, and natural habitats, as well as enhancing the ongoing annual Fourth Grade Water Day program.

"It's obvious that people here see the Arboretum as a showplace and a unique benefit to the town and to its schools," said Vielbig, who also noted its frequent use for wedding, prom and other photography sessions, and numerous civic and group parties and events.

"We hope that vision can result in the financial support we need to preserve what we already have," he said, "and continue developing its potential in the future."

Vielbig said the need for the structure is two-fold: to enable current and future volunteers to carry on the administration, maintenance and programming spearheaded by facility namesake Carol Thielke over the years, and to maximize its potential as an educational and recreational resource for local and outside schools and organizations.

FOGRA asks anyone who is interested in donating, volunteering for the fundraising effort or seeking more information to call 201-447-0452, or visit the organization's website at glenrockarboretum.org.

Tom Scerbo discusses a plan to build an education center at the Thielke Arboretum.

At last Saturday's gathering at the home of Tom Vielbig, president of the Friends of the Glen Rock Arboretum (FOGRA), some 55 invitees learned that the steering committee driving the effort is targeting late 2015 for completion of the project, with 60 percent of the roughly $500,000 needed to secure bank financing still outstanding.

Vielbig said strong support for the project was affirmed by Glen Rock and Ridgewood mayors John van Keuren and Paul Aronsohn, and that their enthusiasm was shared by local school administrators and teachers, Home and School Association leaders, library and church representatives and others across the community.

The initiative's goals and progress were spelled out by Vielbig, project steering committee co-chairs Carol Thielke and Tom Scerbo, and Glen Rock resident Rob Dill, an environmental science professor at Bergen Community College.

"Rob delivered the educator's perspective on what we want to accomplish," Vielbig said. "He's really passionate about this project and did a great job at getting people excited about it too.

Vielbig added, "This wasn't so much a fundraiser as an attempt to gather leaders in and around Glen Rock, and make sure that they have accurate information in order to spread the good word. It also provided a very good networking opportunity, as we get ready to step up fundraising to meet our deadline," referring to the conversations around the room that preceded and followed the speaker portion.

The original blueprint called for a 1,750-square-foot building on the Arboretum grounds, to provide office, conference, classroom and multi-purpose space, along with a restroom. Architectural renderings were initiated in 2012 and have since been fine-tuned. Local and environmental approvals are in hand.

Vielbig said the fundraising and project steering committee - separate from the FOGRA trustees - was recently appointed to explore and accelerate fundraising going forward. Co-chairs Thielke and Scerbo are joined by Bill Carbone, Bob Freudenrich, Bob Van Langen, Scott King and Vielbig - each with fundraising and/or project development experience.

"We know that to meet our timetable, there's a lot of lead time involved prior to actual construction. You start spending money months before construction begins, so you have to be prepared to start cutting checks early next year," Vielbig said.

Commenting on the multi-community participation, he said, "Our vision for the future of the Arboretum transcends simply a Glen Rock-only facility. The audience for this kind of resource is already larger and would broaden further with the addition of the education facility. Regular visitors already include many from Ridgewood, Wyckoff and Clifton," Vielbig noted.

He said that aspect would also play a role in efforts to secure funding grants from various county or state programs that support green space and environmental education projects in New Jersey communities. Noting Dill's Saturday prediction that the biggest problem would be scheduling use of the building, Vielbig said, "That's exactly the kind of headache we hope to have."

Despite its frequent use and status as a treasured resource to local and area residents, the Arboretum has remained without an indoor facility to support both its programming goals and administrative needs.

Discussion and preliminary planning for a building began in 2009, but the actual fundraising kickoff was the 2012 Labor Day weekend Arboretum Run. FOGRA then began distributing informational post cards detailing the project, illustrated by a rendering of the proposed building. A large sign containing those elements was also erected at the Arboretum, and the group continues to post information and receive contributions on its website.

At that time, Vielbig cited the enthusiastic response of community and school district representatives when informed of the plans.

"We presented this to the Federated Home and School Association, and their reaction was, 'This is so obvious, a no-brainer; what can we do to help?'" he said. "We also showed it to members of the high school science faculty, and they were very excited about the educational enhancements they could execute with an indoor facility."

One suggestion by educators was the establishment of the center as an "Onsite Science Lab for Environmental Studies," addressing such areas as wetlands studies, native vs. invasive plants, and natural habitats, as well as enhancing the ongoing annual Fourth Grade Water Day program.

"It's obvious that people here see the Arboretum as a showplace and a unique benefit to the town and to its schools," said Vielbig, who also noted its frequent use for wedding, prom and other photography sessions, and numerous civic and group parties and events.

"We hope that vision can result in the financial support we need to preserve what we already have," he said, "and continue developing its potential in the future."

Vielbig said the need for the structure is two-fold: to enable current and future volunteers to carry on the administration, maintenance and programming spearheaded by facility namesake Carol Thielke over the years, and to maximize its potential as an educational and recreational resource for local and outside schools and organizations.

FOGRA asks anyone who is interested in donating, volunteering for the fundraising effort or seeking more information to call 201-447-0452, or visit the organization's website at glenrockarboretum.org.